led 2nd, made rest, clear approaching 2 out, stayed on well
held up in last pair, headway 10th, went 3rd 15th, stayed on same pace under pressure before 2 out
led until 2nd, chased winner until 7th, chased leaders, weakened before 4 out, went modest 4th last
held up in rear, blundered 2nd, mistake 12th, plugged on same pace from in 4th before 4 out, dropped to 5th last
chased leaders, blundered and unseated rider 14th
hung right almost throughout, tracked leaders, went 2nd at 7th, ridden and no impression from 2 out
tracked leaders until lost place approaching 8th, weakened 15th
Nonrunner
Velator is a course winner, as are veteran Upham Atom and bottom weight Kings Apollo. Aachen was co-favourite for a better race than this at Sandown last month but only managed fourth. However, he is starting to look well treated again and should strip fitter today. Fond Memory got back to winning ways at Kempton in October and should handle the conditions but we just prefer fellow recent winner SPENDING TIME (NAP). David Pipe's charge beat Global Domination by 13 lengths at Huntingdon last month and the runner-up franked the form at Southwell on Tuesday.
Aachen 4-1fav (10-10) Chased leaders, ridden and one pace after 3 out, weakened between last two, 4th of 7, 20 3/4l behind Vino Griego (11-3) at Sandown 3m hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Fond Memory (IRE) 9-2fav (11-12) Jumped left 1st, in touch, took closer order 9th, squeezed through to challenge 2 out, led last, ridden out, won at Kempton 3m hcp (4) gd in Oct beating Midnight Cataria (11-2) by 1 1/4l, 7 ran.
Upham Atom 16-1 (11-5) Always behind, struggling 16th (water), tailed off 3 out, 5th of 11, 32 1/2l behind Whats Happening (11-9) at Cheltenham 3m 4f hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Ballycoe Evensfav (11-5) Led, narrowly headed after 7th, with leader, led again approaching 1th, narrowly headed before 4 out where left in lead, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, found nil and struggling after, finished tired, 3rd of 4, dist behind How About It (11-5) at Exeter 3m (4) gd in Oct.
Shy John 12-1 (11-7) Behind, headway 5 out, weakened next, 6th of 11, 34 1/4l behind King Massini (11-5) at Ludlow 3m 2f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Spending Time 5-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, lost place after 8th, headway 13th, led before 2 out, clear approaching last, stayed on well, won at Huntingdon 3m hcp (4) sft in Nov beating Global Domination (10-4) by 13l, 8 ran.
Kings Apollo 20-1 (10-5) Led until 2nd, led 7th, headed 9th, every chance when fell 16th, at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Velator 11-8fav (11-12) In rear and in touch, pushed along after 4th, ridden and outpaced 4 out, kept on and no impression, last of 4, 12 3/4l behind Chill Factor (11-9) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp (3) gf in Apr.
